Orthokine Treatment is Effective for Knee Arthritis, Even After Two Years

DUSSELDORF, Germany, August 05, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of a two-year representative study of knee osteoarthritis, published in the internationally renowned journal "Osteoarthritis and Cartilage", confirm the safety and effectiveness of Orthokine therapy, in which anti-inflammatory proteins obtained from the patient's own blood are injected into the arthritic joint.

Researchers at Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf compared three treatments to determine which one produces the best long-term results for treatment of knee osteoarthritis. A total of 310 patients received a series of injections one of Orthokine, hyaluronic acid (a joint lubricant), or a placebo (table salt solution). Because of the chronic nature of arthritis, long-term treatment effects are particularly important for sufferers.

Two years after the initial treatment, 188 of the 310 patients were still experiencing reduced pain and improved function of the affected joint. The Orthokine group had the fewest patients who went on to seek further treatment. Patients who received Orthokine treatment had the greatest improvements in VAS and WOMAC scores. For the WOMAC test in particular, the outcomes were as follows: Starting from an initial WOMAC score of 124, the Orthokine group saw a reduction to a score of 58, while the final WOMAC scores for the other two groups remained well above that at 88 and 84. "This study shows that Orthokine treatment is a safe alternative to conventional methods", says study physician Carsten Moser.

"Osteoarthritis and Cartilage" is a respected scientific journal (impact factor 4.017) that publishes only original, peer-reviewed research into new methods for the treatment of diseases of the locomotor system.

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